CONCORD, NC – Nov. 28, 2007 – Steve Francis and Chub Frank – the top-two finishers in the 2007 World of Outlaws Late Model Series points standings – are among the nominees for the prestigious 2007 All-America Auto Racing Team, which is determined by the 400-plus voting members of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (AARWBA). 

 

Francis, who won his first-ever WoO LMS title, and Frank earned nominations in the ‘Short Track’ category. A total of seven different divisions comprise the AARWBA balloting, with the top-two vote-getters in each category being named to the All-America Auto Racing First Team. 

 

Other ‘Short Track’ nominees include 2007 World of Outlaws Sprint Car champion Donny Schatz and series runner-up Joey Saldana, as well as USAC open-wheel national titlists Levi Jones (Sprint Cars) and Jerry Coons Jr. (Midgets). 

 

A dirt Late Model driver has never been voted to the AARWBA All-America First Team, which has been chosen annually by the group’s membership since 1970.  

 

“It’s a significant achievement for Steve Francis and Chub Frank to receive nominations for the AARWBA All-America Auto Racing Team,” said WoO LMS director Tim Christman. “Only the best short-track racers in the country are considered for the team, so we’re extremely excited and proud that two of the nominees were regulars with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series.” 

 

The drivers placing third and fourth in each category’s voting will be named to the All-America Auto Racing Second Team, and all other drivers receiving at least five percent of the vote will receive ‘Honorable Mention’ status.  

 

Both Francis and Frank will also be in the running for the Jerry Titus Award, which is presented annually to the All-America team driver who receives the most votes in the balloting, regardless of category. 

 

The AARWBA will honor its standout drivers from the 2007 season during the 38th annual AARWBA Banquet in Indianapolis on Jan. 12, 2008. 

 

Francis, 40, of Ashland, Ky., earned his All-America Team nomination thanks to a dream season on the WoO LMS in 2007. With a performance record that featured four wins, 27 top-five and 40 top-10 finishes in 44 A-Main starts on the tour, the ‘Kentucky Colonel’ ran away with the $100,000 title for the first time after finishing a heartbreaking second in the standings in both 2004 and 2005.  

 

Frank, 45, of Bear Lake, Pa., fell short in his second-half pursuit of Francis for the WoO LMS championship, but he enjoyed a career season nonetheless. The popular driver known as ‘Chubzilla’ led the competitive tour in A-Main victories, with six, and finished a personal-best second in the points standings. He also won the unsanctioned Dirt Track World Championship event at Ohio’s K-C Raceway, which brought him a $50,000 top prize.